title: [Examination of the hand and wrist joints with a dedicated low-field MRI device].
abstract: Purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of a low field dedicated MRI system in hand and wrist imaging. All 308 exams of the hand and wrist, that were performed on a low-field dedicated MRI system (Artoscan, Esaote Biomedica, Italy) in our institution in 1996, and high-field MRI exams performed in addition as part of the diagnostic work-up, were evaluated and correlated to final operative (n = 64) and histologic (n = 12) reports. 90% of all low-field MRI scans stated a diagnosis according to clinical suspicion. In 62% the clinical question was answered, and in 26% additional pathologies were identified. An MR-diagnosis completely different from the clinical suspicion was stated in 2%. High field exams contributed additional information in 6 of 36 patients. In 3 patients a tumor was not shown completely in the limited field-of-view of the dedicated low-field MRI-system. Frequency-selective fat-suppression pulse sequences and a better spatial resolution were the reasons for the additional information obtained in the other three patients. Low-field dedicated MR-imaging is a valuable method in the extensive work-up of the hand and wrist. Osseous, ligamentous and tendinous pathologies are well depicted. Large or infiltrative tumors should be referred to a high-field system.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Radiologische Diagnostik, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bonél
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frick
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sittek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heuck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steinborn
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Baumeister
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reiser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000473:pathology; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000473:pathology
vernacular_title: Untersuchung von Hand und Handgelenken mit einem dedizierten Niederfeldextremitäten-MRT-Gerät.